A pounder of a quarter: American banks report

<p>Bank bosses are jubilant: revenues were down but profits <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2021/07/15/banks-on-wall-street-report-bumper-second-quarter-profits?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">way up</a>. We look at the pandemic-driven reasons behind the windfall, and ask how long their influence may last. A thicket of conflicting laws is <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2021/06/24/bob-marleys-heirs-boost-jamaicas-ganja-industry?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">complicating</a> Jamaica’s plans to enter the wider medical-marijuana market. And our critic reports from a <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2021/07/01/cannes-kicks-off-a-brighter-blockbuster-season?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">slimmed-down</a> Cannes film festival.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></p><p>Runtime: 22min</p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>